I snuck up behind her and weaved my arms around her waist. "Hey you." I
whispered into her ear making her jump.
She playfully slapped my stomach. "You jerk!"
I grabbed her hand and she began walking the path to the Junior Girl's Dorm. "So what did dear ol' dad say?" I mocked smiling at her, pulling my jacket tight around me.
"My father is pleased to hear I'm taking initiative and watching out for my marks and has threatened that if he finds out I'm with you, he'll send me to Canada and you'll be swimming with the fishes." She shrugged. "You know the usual."
I blinked. "Wow, and to think he used to like me."
She nodded. "Yup. Actually, could you stay out here?" She asked looking up at her dorm. "I'm going to go change, so we don't. . ." She eyed my white button up shirt that was barely visible through my coat and her white polo, ". . . match and so I actually have my books."
I frowned. "I could have worn a white polo just to piss you off." I scoffed.
She smiled and kissed me quickly. "Yes you could have and I must say you're taking a step in the right direction by not wearing a polo today. You look less like a Cake-eater and more like a regular guy." She laughed nudging my arm. "Next step is getting rid of your geek vests!"
"Go ahead! I don't like them anyways!" I called after her as she walked to her dorm.
"And then we un-color co-ordinate your closet!" She yelled over her shoulder.
I shook my head. Has everyone noticed that? I'm not crazy, right?
"Adam Banks. Good to see you again. . ."
I spin around and sigh angrily staring into the face, who I have now labeled as my moral enemy, and this guy goes to a Catholic school! "What do you want Will?"
He shrugs. "I just wanted to say the better man has won."
I cocked an eyebrow. "You're kidding right?"
Will looked genuinely shocked. "Why would I kid about this? I mean, you and Joslyn are together. I should be happy about that, seeing she's like a sister to me."
I blinked. I have so many things that revolve around incest at the moment, but I hold them back. "Really, I wouldn't have suspected you guys were really close."
"You obviously don't know a thing about her." He scoffed shaking his head.
I rolled my eyes. "You think you know more about my girlfriend than I do? I know for a fact that she thinks you're a fucking psychotic and that she would rather become a nun than go out with the likes of you."
He smirked. "Did you know she was on suicide watch?"
"What?"
"Still is actually. Didn't you wonder why she skipped out on you the first time she fell asleep with you? Appointment, to make sure she hasn't been cutting." He blinked completely mellow, despite the fact that I probably looked terrified. "She didn't tell you she was a cutter?"
I took a shaky breath. "It's not true."
He made a surprised face. "I guess you need this more than I do." He said handing me a CD case.
I looked down at the disk. "What's on it?"
"Stuff." He muttered smirking. "Just stuff."
I shook my head, it couldn't be true. "Take it back. It isn't true; now take it back!"
He shrugged. "I believe in telling the truth at all times. Secrets are never a good thing to have in a relationship. I believe it says something like that in the bible."
"Yeah well it probably also says something about hitting girls in there too." I growled at him.
Will shrugged. "Ask Joslyn bet she's going to be brushing up on her bible studies soon too."
"You fucking asshole." I said lunging at him, only to have him step aside.
"Tut tut tut. Bad Adam. I've been reading up on this school's honor code and it seems to me that you've been breaking a whole lot of rules lately." He tossed a couple Polaroids at my feet and smirked. "And I have proof."
I bent down and picked them up, my eyes widened with surprise. "You're spying on me and Josie?" I flipped through them. One of them is at the diner in Wisconsin, Josie and I smiling obliviously, another is her in my dorm sleeping, others are us at the rink after the dance, laughing, sleeping . . . the one that scares me most is her and I kissing the day before the dance. "Holy shit . . ."
He grabs me by the collar of my shirt, his violent side taking over him. "Another toe out of line Adam Banks and I will burry you because you see, I can make things happen, that didn't." He shrugs. "You could call it my hobby."
"You watch 'the Sopranos' too much." I scoffed, smirking a little. After the last couple days I've been through, whatever he could do is no big deal.
His lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Oh, and if I were you, I'd kiss Joslyn goodbye because today is your last chance." He said pushing me away roughly and cracking each of his knuckles one by one.
"You touch her and. . ."
He smirked. "I won't have to."
I took a shaky breath. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see." He smirked backing up from me and pulling at the collar of his patched leather jacket.
I tried to run over the facts that he told me. Trying to differentiate between the lies he was shoveling out and the truth. I still held the disk and the pictures in my hand. I looked over at the garbage can. Did I really want to know the truth?
"Adam!" I heard Josie call from behind me.
I shoved the disk and pictures into my coat pocket. "Josie . . . hey."
She suspiciously looked me over. "What did you put in your pocket?"
I swallowed. "My cell." I quickly made up. "I didn't want it to ring while we were in the library."
"Oh." She nodded carefully, unsure on whether to believe me or not. "Is something wrong? You're acting . . . funny."
I shook my head. "No. Of course not." I replied trying to forget about the CD in my pocket and the pictures.
She looked around. "Did you see someone? Did someone say something to you?"
"No." I bit my lip nervously. "Are you keeping something from me?" I asked quietly, hoping like hell she would just tell me.
She cocked an eyebrow. "No. Are you keeping something from me?"
I shook my head violently. "No." I bit my lip. "Remember the day you got really drunk and borrowed my jacket to wear back to your dorms?"
She rolled her eyes and took my head and we began to head back to the main building. "Yes, don't remind me. Never let me drink like that again."
"Yeah well, why did you leave so early?" I asked quietly.
"Exams," she said rather exasperated, "and the fact that my roommate would have had a field day if she knew I was drunk and in your dorm room with six other guys.
I smirked. "Actually it was only three. It was just Guy, Charlie and me."
"Oh." She said surprised. "Ok, then."
"So there was no other reason?" I asked trying to seem casual.
She let go of my hand and stopped in her tracks. "Adam, what's with the interrogation? If you have something to ask me, just ask. Let's not play twenty questions and let's not beat around the bush."
I shrugged. "No reason. Just wondering."
The accusing tone in her voice seemed to die down. "Are you sure?"
I smiled a little. "Positive."
She bit her lip, unsure of on whether or not to believe me. She took a quick breath and shook her head. "Ok, whatever." She replied pulling her bag up onto her shoulder again.
I nodded. "To the library we go." I said gesturing to the path in front of us and trying to guide her towards the main building.
"I don't want to go to the library." She admitted standing her ground. "And we might get seen there together, and as much as I love Canadians, I don't really want to brush up on my French anytime soon."
I rolled my eyes. "Ok then, where do you want to go?"
She smirked. "Well actually Adam Banks, how about you take me someplace, other than the rink and your dorm. That way I can start to unravel the mystery that is Adam . . . Banks." She stopped and frowned. "I still don't know your middle name."
I bit my lip. "You kind of put me on the spot here. I don't know where to take you and I think we should keep my middle name a secret because you'll run around screaming it."
"I would not scream it . . . much." She smiled shoving me a little and laughing. "Aw . . . come on Banks! Think! There has to be one place that is like your second home other than the rink! A diner? A store?"
I wrapped my arm around her waist and guided her towards the front iron gates. "Well, there's this one place."
Her face brightened. "Ooh! I get to go to a place! Tell me!" She seemed almost giddy.
"It's a surprise." I declared pulling her along.
She sighed. "I hate surprises. I want to know now!"
I looked over at her. "Spoiled."
She shrugged. "Only child and I am female."
I smiled at her. "Explains it all." I squeezed her tight, as Will's words began to sink in. My last chance with her; it couldn't be. I tried to shake it off. "We're going to have to take a bus then walk a little bit." I told her quietly kissing the top of her head. "You still want to go?"
She looked up at me and nodded. "Yeah, of course I do." She shook her head. "Why wouldn't I? I want to know you."
"You do know me." I replied rather confidently.
She nodded. "Of course I do Adam. I know the present you. But I know nothing of the past you that made you become the 'you' of today."
I scoffed. "You make me sound like a toaster in an infomercial."
"You set it and forget it!" She chanted laughing and shaking her head. "Seriously Adam, I know basically nothing about you. I know you play hockey and you're like a super genius in English, but other than that you could be like a convicted serial killer."
"I'm not a serial killer." I laughed.
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Or are you just saying that?" She replied in fake suspicion. "Maybe you aren't the real Adam Banks and you buried the real Adam Banks in you backyard after you murdered him in his sleep, when you just hit him and hit him and hit . . ." She stopped and blushed. "I think I have an overactive imagination."
I shook my head. "Just a little." I said as I sat down on the bench at the bus stop.
Josie frowned as I sat and immediately sat on top of me.
"Hey!" I yelped, surprised. "You're heavy!"
Her jaw dropped. "First of all you never say that to a girl. Secondly you never EVER say that to your girlfriend! Don't you have an older brother or sister to teach you the ways of speaking to girls?"
"Yes, and his name is Jay, but he's considering changing it to Jack." I scoffed and tried to shift a little to get a bit more comfortable, even though I was on a cement bench.
She frowned. "Why would he change it to Jack?"
"So it matches his middle name."
"And that would be. . ."
"Ass." I smirked.
She rolled her eyes. "He can't be that bad. He's your brother."
I sighed and wrapped both arms around her middle as she shivered. "He is that bad even though he is my brother, he's a jerk." I looked up at her.
"You're still lucky. I would have killed to have a sibling; a little sister preferably." She sighed wrapping her arms around my shoulders. "An older brother would have been cool too. Truthfully, I don't think my parents wanted children."
"Why would you say that? Your father loves you; that's why he's telling you to stay away from me." I replied leaning back onto the bench and stretching my legs out in front of me.
She chuckled. "I didn't say I doubted that they love me. I know they do." She shrugged. "You know he used to take her a special café every Sunday before I was born and my dad doesn't even drink coffee. My mom said she loved it there. Then suddenly they just . . . stopped; like it didn't matter anymore. Like they didn't have to prove that they loved each other anymore. I just get the feeling they were happier before me."
"How could you say that!" I yelped squeezing her tight. "You know I'm not the biggest fan of your dad here, but I know that they weren't happier then, or loved each other more, or whatever." I smiled. "They just didn't have to prove it anymore because they had you to show that they did and still do." It suddenly clicked in my head. "Maybe that's why your dad is so protective of you."
She looked over her shoulder at the city bus approaching and got off my lap quickly as the doors swung open with a great creak. "Well I wish he would stop."
She sighed for about the millionth time since we had got on the bus. I had finally convinced her to open her Spanish notebook and look through her notes even though she had insisted that if she was to study she would begin to forget things and fail the exam.
"Procrastinator." I shot at her as I flipped the page and took a breath. Ok, the Alaska Boundary Dispute. Canada and the States were fighting over land because when Russia sold Alaska to us the border wasn't properly outlined so each country felt they weren't getting their fair share. They decided a group of judges would rule over this issue. There were three American Judges, two Canadians and a British one because Britain was still ruling over. . .
"Adam, are we there yet? I think my foot is asleep, you might have to carry me." Josie admitted slamming her binder closed and leaning on my shoulder.
I looked around me deciding on where we exactly were. "Almost, one more stop." I replied casually and looking back at my notes. "And I'm sure you can walk."
I threw herself dramatically into my lap blocking my notes from my eyes. "I'm paralyzed Adam! Paralyzed! I need a big strong hockey player . . . much like yourself to carry me!"
"You should be an actress." I said shoving her off me and closing my book and squishing it into my backpack.
"Naw. . . Most actresses are so . . . duh . . . The only one who is pretty good is probably Angelina Jolie; she can kick ass. Actually I heard for a while she wore Billy-Bob Thorton's blood in a vial around her neck while they were married."
I frowned and eyed her carefully. "Oh . . ." Blood. I wonder where she cut herself. Wrists maybe? I've heard of people cutting their ankles so no one could see it. I shook my head. I don't remember seeing any scaring on her. But then again I haven't really been looking.
"Adam! You zoned out on me." Josie said snapping her fingers quickly and grabbing my hand. "Is this the stop?"
I looked around and smiled. "Yeah this is it." I replied looking at our intertwined fingers, trying to focus on her wrist but it was covered by an oversized sweater and her black coat.
She was completely silent as we stepped off the bus and looked around. "Ok Adam, show me the way."
I smirked. "Well first of all, it's that way." I said pointing towards a suburb. It was a nice suburban area. The houses were large and spacious and the backyards had pools. It was close to my home.
She looked over at me. "Over there? Are you sure?"
"Uh huh." I nodded. I hadn't been here in a long time but I knew exactly where I was going. I had actually been told to memorize the way a long time ago and I still hadn't forgotten.
She bit her lip and looked around noticing I hadn't made a move. "If you don't want to go that's fine Adam. You don't have to."
I shook my head. "No we should."
She nodded and took my hand and smiled reassuringly. "Ok."
I took a few steps shakily remembering the last time I had to. I was ten. It was almost six years ago. I closed my eyes and kept waking, urging my legs to move.
"You're a Duck!"
I looked down at my sneakers. "Dan, it's not that bad. It's just a few games."
McGill shook his head. "So what you're just going to leave us for the scrubs?"
"Dan, it's not his choice." Larson defended me quietly.
"Shut up Ryan." Dan spat his nose wrinkling in disgust. "Banks obviously isn't a real Hawk and is going to play for the scrubs. I should have seen it sooner."
"Dan . . ." Ryan started.
"Be quiet Ryan! He was always nice to the scrubs. I bet he is one."
My eyes widened. "I am not! I'm a Hawk. I wore the same jersey as you. It wasn't my fault. It was the districts. My dad tried getting it straightened out but that stupid coach of theirs wouldn't hear of it. I am not a Duck."
Dan grabbed the backpack off my shoulder, making me lose my balance and stumble over my feet and land in the slush by the big tree. "Then you wouldn't mind me looking through your bag." He said unzipping it and tossing my notebooks to the ground. His expression changed drastically as he pulling out my new green jersey. "I told you he was a Duck." He spat at Larson.
Ryan looked away from me sadly. "You don't belong here Adam."
Dan nodded. "Yeah get out of here Duck! You aren't a Hawk now get out of here and don't come back!" He said tossing my bag and my jersey at me. "Go on now. Go!"
I blinked completely confused. "Guys, it isn't my fault. We're best. . ."
"Get out of here Banks!" Ryan yelled for once. "You're a Duck now go!"
I gathered my notebooks and my jersey shoving them un-orderly into my bag, tears blurring my vision grabbing at roots of trees trying to get up the bank, away from our ravine and back home.
I looked down upon the ravine with hesitant eyes. It was just as I left it; beautiful and serene. It was the reason why we picked it, but Ryan Dan or I weren't actually going to admit that when we did. I heard Josie take a sharp breath in beside me.
"Adam, it's amazing." She whispered, looking down upon the snow that had drifted over the banks and the river that has frozen solid.
I nodded carefully. "I haven't been here in a while." I replied back. "It's good to be back." I looked down at the snow where someone has kicked in the snow to make stairs up and down the banks.
Josie looked over at me carefully. "Can we go down there?" She asked innocently, her eyes sparkling as she looked around.
"Go ahead." I smirked as she gingerly went down the steps and walked around through the crunching snow.
She looked up at me blinking. "Aren't you coming?"
I looked over my shoulder carefully. "I don't know. I think I might stay here, keep a lookout."
"For what? Polar bears!" She laughed. "This is your special spot, you should be down here!"
I sighed and carefully went down the icy steps to her. "If we get eaten by polar bears . . ." I mocked her.
"I know I know, at the fiery gates of hell you get to say I told you so." She laughed, slipping her gloved hand into my bare one and pulled me along the river's edge. "Tell me why here?"
"Because I knew you would like it." I whispered to her.
"Liar." She shot back at me laughing. "Trust me Adam. I'm not going to laugh. My special spot is a truck stop in Hudson, Wisconsin. This place is amazing."
I looked over at her and let go of her hand and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into both of my arms, holding her tight. "I love you more than anything." I whispered to her.
Her arms gently moved up my back in a light, hesitant embrace. "Adam what's going on? You're scaring me." Her response was muffled by my coat.
"I. . ."
"Banksie-boy?"
I looked up from Josie to the edge of the bank overlooking the ravine below.
"Larson! Come here!" The teen called behind him, his eyes shifting back to me. "Banks, is that you?"
~
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* A/N: Yes! It's been a while. I'm trying my hardest trying to get back into my regular updating but it's getting so hard! I'm not running out of ideas (just read the chapter) it's just that I'm daydreaming them and I either a) act them out in my head during French class in the middle of a lecture on l'imparfait and passé composee, which I really should be paying attention in, b) writing down my idea during Careers which is a breeze, but the scenes are like CHAPTERS and CHAPTERS ahead or c) thinking about them right before I go to bed and then I have to keep them until I can get to a computer after school the next day. It's totally not cool. *Fulton walks in* Fulton: "Katie!! You look tired. Go to bed. I'll go get Kenny and Adam and they'll finish your shout outs. You have a French vocab test tomorrow morning. Go! Bed! You! Now! Sleep!" *author rolls eyes* It's only 11:15! And I have a vocab test I need to study for. . . Go get Adam and Kenny. *Fulton nods and runs upstairs. Ok. I'll leave you guys to Adam and Kenny in a second. Ok, so I hope you all enjoyed my chapter. I hope you liked the flashback. I kind of always wondered about Adam's friendships after he joined the Ducks in D1 because it wasn't explained really. So my explanation. I hope you enjoyed it and . . . . *Kenny, Adam, Peter (yay!), Averman and Fulton walk into room* *Peter crosses arms* Peter: "Off. Our turn." Guys!! *Fulton picks up author and trudges up the stairs as the author screams her goodbyes to everyone* Kenny: "Hi! We finally got out of that suitcase. I learned a lot about Peter like if you poke him in his right kidney, he flinches." *Averman giggles and pokes Peter making his jump* Peter: "Do you want to lose that finger?" Adam: "Guys. Let's finish Katie's shout outs and then you can beat my roommate up." Peter: "You've changed Banksie. I like it because I get to hurt Averman. *smiles sadistically*" *Averman cowers*
Shout Outs!!
Tara- Adam: "Hey Tara! Katie went to sleep and Fulton is tucking her in, so she can't say hey to everyone. Katie wanted to say that she's been reading 'Romeo and Julie' but keeps forgetting to review and she's really angry at herself for not doing it because you have been so active in reviewing 'Don't Speak' *coughs* the Adam Story *cough*" Peter: "If your head gets any bigger your brains will come out your ears." *Adam glares* Peter: "Ok, Katie says this. The reason why I couldn't go to the Goodwill Games was the same reason Terry couldn't. If you read back in the story, it says that Terry was like a few months too young and that's why I couldn't go with them and which is also why I didn't get a scholarship." Adam: "Katie is so smart." Peter: "*nods* I wanted to come, but I couldn't. Stupid age restrictions." Averman: "*grabs keyboard* But we still won without him. Says a whole lot about his skills and . . . *Peter punches Averman in the arm* OWWWW!! Peter! That hurt!!" Adam: "*snickers quietly*" *Averman grumbles and goes upstairs to say goodnight to author* *Kenny grabs keyboard* Kenny: "You guys are just going in circles and aren't paying attention to what Katie told us to do! *shakes head and continues* Anyways, Katie said it was ok that you didn't say heaps, your other reviews made up for it and she's glad you enjoyed the chapter! And she said to say 'Love from Canada, Katie, Adam, Fulton, Kenny, Peter and Averman. But I just wanted to say Hey to Dean! Big Bash Bro!! It's weird just having Fulton here! You have to see Canada! It's amazing!! Lates!"
Beaner- Adam: "Hey Katie! OHH!! I met Katie (the author)'s friend named Katie, and her OTHER friend names Katie. They were super cool! I think most Katie's of the world are amazing! I think I'm going to start a fan club!" *Kenny grabs keyboard* Kenny: "Enough already! Katie said 'She was glad you liked last chapter and is hoping you like this chapter too! And. . . .'" *Averman snatches away keyboard* Averman: "You agree with me? YOU AGREE WITH ME! In your face Adam Banks! *does victory dance* tra la la la la la!! Katie agrees with me!" *Peter punches him in the arm* Averman: "Dammit Peter! I'm going to be more bruised than Adam was after his dad!" Adam: *Punches Averman in the other arm* "Stop talking about my dad!" Averman: *pouts* "I'm getting abused here."*Kenny grabs keyboard* Kenny: "Ok Everyone out! I'm finishing the shout outs! If I need you I'll get you. Out!" *guys glare at each other as they file out.* Kenny: *sighs* "There! Where was I? Oh yes, Katie said not to be scared of serious Averman. He's perfectly harmless. Worry about the parents. Oh I'll personally make Averman into a snowman if you want to hit him, because he needs it right now. Katie also says, she's hoping she'll be able to come back, because she really really REALLY likes writing and she doesn't want to leave because this is a major outlet of stress. So. . . maybe. We'll see. Other than that lates from everyone in Canada, which is me (Kenny), Adam, Fulton, Averman and the author, Katie!"
Rachel- Kenny: "Hey! Katie (seeing she's sleeping) had some things to say to you. You TOTALLY got the Averman side. She was hoping you guys wouldn't see him as just another conflict but also as a warning! She was so happy she was bouncing when she read your review. Adam has made a statement too saying he isn't being hired out to clean closets. Averman has already asked and Peter punched him in the gut. We're not sure if it was because of the Adam thing or if he said something to Peter about his height. No matter. The Ducks wish you a Happy (belated) Valentines Day!!"
Shelbers- Kenny: "Hey you two! Charlie, don't worry about Averman. He'll probably have another serious moment soon. One day. Maybe. And it isn't that big of a deal Averman is pretty boring when he isn't joking around." *Averman pokes his head into the room* Averman: "I heard that Wu. I'll have Peter over you like a starved puppy on a pork chop!" *scuffle from outside of the room* Peter: "Don't call me a puppy! I still haven't forgiven you for stuffing me into a suitcase!" Kenny: *coughs nervously* "Yes anyways. Hope you two liked the chapter!"
OreoLine00- *everyone rushes in* Peter: "You got into a fight with Jesse? Jesse HALL? Jesse Hall number 9? Are you SURE it wasn't a different Jesse?" Adam: "We're confused . . . did you send him home to us or to another campsite? Because then we're going to have to keep a lookout for crates." *Everyone nods in agreement* Kenny: "Anyways, We've done a consensus here. We have decided that Adam in leather would be weird. Actually we borrowed Fulton's and Adam almost collapsed under the weight of it. It was pretty funny. So it's a nay on the leather." *Adam nods* Kenny: "Katie wanted to thank you for the review and told us to tell you to keep reading!
Kenny: "Well I'm proud of my work! Katie is sleeping and Fulton is . . . *looks around* Where's Fulton?" *The ducks look around frowning* Peter: "Where is Fulton?" Averman:" We're going to look for Fulton now. Later! Review!
~Toodles!
She playfully slapped my stomach. "You jerk!"
I grabbed her hand and she began walking the path to the Junior Girl's Dorm. "So what did dear ol' dad say?" I mocked smiling at her, pulling my jacket tight around me.
"My father is pleased to hear I'm taking initiative and watching out for my marks and has threatened that if he finds out I'm with you, he'll send me to Canada and you'll be swimming with the fishes." She shrugged. "You know the usual."
I blinked. "Wow, and to think he used to like me."
She nodded. "Yup. Actually, could you stay out here?" She asked looking up at her dorm. "I'm going to go change, so we don't. . ." She eyed my white button up shirt that was barely visible through my coat and her white polo, ". . . match and so I actually have my books."
I frowned. "I could have worn a white polo just to piss you off." I scoffed.
She smiled and kissed me quickly. "Yes you could have and I must say you're taking a step in the right direction by not wearing a polo today. You look less like a Cake-eater and more like a regular guy." She laughed nudging my arm. "Next step is getting rid of your geek vests!"
"Go ahead! I don't like them anyways!" I called after her as she walked to her dorm.
"And then we un-color co-ordinate your closet!" She yelled over her shoulder.
I shook my head. Has everyone noticed that? I'm not crazy, right?
"Adam Banks. Good to see you again. . ."
I spin around and sigh angrily staring into the face, who I have now labeled as my moral enemy, and this guy goes to a Catholic school! "What do you want Will?"
He shrugs. "I just wanted to say the better man has won."
I cocked an eyebrow. "You're kidding right?"
Will looked genuinely shocked. "Why would I kid about this? I mean, you and Joslyn are together. I should be happy about that, seeing she's like a sister to me."
I blinked. I have so many things that revolve around incest at the moment, but I hold them back. "Really, I wouldn't have suspected you guys were really close."
"You obviously don't know a thing about her." He scoffed shaking his head.
I rolled my eyes. "You think you know more about my girlfriend than I do? I know for a fact that she thinks you're a fucking psychotic and that she would rather become a nun than go out with the likes of you."
He smirked. "Did you know she was on suicide watch?"
"What?"
"Still is actually. Didn't you wonder why she skipped out on you the first time she fell asleep with you? Appointment, to make sure she hasn't been cutting." He blinked completely mellow, despite the fact that I probably looked terrified. "She didn't tell you she was a cutter?"
I took a shaky breath. "It's not true."
He made a surprised face. "I guess you need this more than I do." He said handing me a CD case.
I looked down at the disk. "What's on it?"
"Stuff." He muttered smirking. "Just stuff."
I shook my head, it couldn't be true. "Take it back. It isn't true; now take it back!"
He shrugged. "I believe in telling the truth at all times. Secrets are never a good thing to have in a relationship. I believe it says something like that in the bible."
"Yeah well it probably also says something about hitting girls in there too." I growled at him.
Will shrugged. "Ask Joslyn bet she's going to be brushing up on her bible studies soon too."
"You fucking asshole." I said lunging at him, only to have him step aside.
"Tut tut tut. Bad Adam. I've been reading up on this school's honor code and it seems to me that you've been breaking a whole lot of rules lately." He tossed a couple Polaroids at my feet and smirked. "And I have proof."
I bent down and picked them up, my eyes widened with surprise. "You're spying on me and Josie?" I flipped through them. One of them is at the diner in Wisconsin, Josie and I smiling obliviously, another is her in my dorm sleeping, others are us at the rink after the dance, laughing, sleeping . . . the one that scares me most is her and I kissing the day before the dance. "Holy shit . . ."
He grabs me by the collar of my shirt, his violent side taking over him. "Another toe out of line Adam Banks and I will burry you because you see, I can make things happen, that didn't." He shrugs. "You could call it my hobby."
"You watch 'the Sopranos' too much." I scoffed, smirking a little. After the last couple days I've been through, whatever he could do is no big deal.
His lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Oh, and if I were you, I'd kiss Joslyn goodbye because today is your last chance." He said pushing me away roughly and cracking each of his knuckles one by one.
"You touch her and. . ."
He smirked. "I won't have to."
I took a shaky breath. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see." He smirked backing up from me and pulling at the collar of his patched leather jacket.
I tried to run over the facts that he told me. Trying to differentiate between the lies he was shoveling out and the truth. I still held the disk and the pictures in my hand. I looked over at the garbage can. Did I really want to know the truth?
"Adam!" I heard Josie call from behind me.
I shoved the disk and pictures into my coat pocket. "Josie . . . hey."
She suspiciously looked me over. "What did you put in your pocket?"
I swallowed. "My cell." I quickly made up. "I didn't want it to ring while we were in the library."
"Oh." She nodded carefully, unsure on whether to believe me or not. "Is something wrong? You're acting . . . funny."
I shook my head. "No. Of course not." I replied trying to forget about the CD in my pocket and the pictures.
She looked around. "Did you see someone? Did someone say something to you?"
"No." I bit my lip nervously. "Are you keeping something from me?" I asked quietly, hoping like hell she would just tell me.
She cocked an eyebrow. "No. Are you keeping something from me?"
I shook my head violently. "No." I bit my lip. "Remember the day you got really drunk and borrowed my jacket to wear back to your dorms?"
She rolled her eyes and took my head and we began to head back to the main building. "Yes, don't remind me. Never let me drink like that again."
"Yeah well, why did you leave so early?" I asked quietly.
"Exams," she said rather exasperated, "and the fact that my roommate would have had a field day if she knew I was drunk and in your dorm room with six other guys.
I smirked. "Actually it was only three. It was just Guy, Charlie and me."
"Oh." She said surprised. "Ok, then."
"So there was no other reason?" I asked trying to seem casual.
She let go of my hand and stopped in her tracks. "Adam, what's with the interrogation? If you have something to ask me, just ask. Let's not play twenty questions and let's not beat around the bush."
I shrugged. "No reason. Just wondering."
The accusing tone in her voice seemed to die down. "Are you sure?"
I smiled a little. "Positive."
She bit her lip, unsure of on whether or not to believe me. She took a quick breath and shook her head. "Ok, whatever." She replied pulling her bag up onto her shoulder again.
I nodded. "To the library we go." I said gesturing to the path in front of us and trying to guide her towards the main building.
"I don't want to go to the library." She admitted standing her ground. "And we might get seen there together, and as much as I love Canadians, I don't really want to brush up on my French anytime soon."
I rolled my eyes. "Ok then, where do you want to go?"
She smirked. "Well actually Adam Banks, how about you take me someplace, other than the rink and your dorm. That way I can start to unravel the mystery that is Adam . . . Banks." She stopped and frowned. "I still don't know your middle name."
I bit my lip. "You kind of put me on the spot here. I don't know where to take you and I think we should keep my middle name a secret because you'll run around screaming it."
"I would not scream it . . . much." She smiled shoving me a little and laughing. "Aw . . . come on Banks! Think! There has to be one place that is like your second home other than the rink! A diner? A store?"
I wrapped my arm around her waist and guided her towards the front iron gates. "Well, there's this one place."
Her face brightened. "Ooh! I get to go to a place! Tell me!" She seemed almost giddy.
"It's a surprise." I declared pulling her along.
She sighed. "I hate surprises. I want to know now!"
I looked over at her. "Spoiled."
She shrugged. "Only child and I am female."
I smiled at her. "Explains it all." I squeezed her tight, as Will's words began to sink in. My last chance with her; it couldn't be. I tried to shake it off. "We're going to have to take a bus then walk a little bit." I told her quietly kissing the top of her head. "You still want to go?"
She looked up at me and nodded. "Yeah, of course I do." She shook her head. "Why wouldn't I? I want to know you."
"You do know me." I replied rather confidently.
She nodded. "Of course I do Adam. I know the present you. But I know nothing of the past you that made you become the 'you' of today."
I scoffed. "You make me sound like a toaster in an infomercial."
"You set it and forget it!" She chanted laughing and shaking her head. "Seriously Adam, I know basically nothing about you. I know you play hockey and you're like a super genius in English, but other than that you could be like a convicted serial killer."
"I'm not a serial killer." I laughed.
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Or are you just saying that?" She replied in fake suspicion. "Maybe you aren't the real Adam Banks and you buried the real Adam Banks in you backyard after you murdered him in his sleep, when you just hit him and hit him and hit . . ." She stopped and blushed. "I think I have an overactive imagination."
I shook my head. "Just a little." I said as I sat down on the bench at the bus stop.
Josie frowned as I sat and immediately sat on top of me.
"Hey!" I yelped, surprised. "You're heavy!"
Her jaw dropped. "First of all you never say that to a girl. Secondly you never EVER say that to your girlfriend! Don't you have an older brother or sister to teach you the ways of speaking to girls?"
"Yes, and his name is Jay, but he's considering changing it to Jack." I scoffed and tried to shift a little to get a bit more comfortable, even though I was on a cement bench.
She frowned. "Why would he change it to Jack?"
"So it matches his middle name."
"And that would be. . ."
"Ass." I smirked.
She rolled her eyes. "He can't be that bad. He's your brother."
I sighed and wrapped both arms around her middle as she shivered. "He is that bad even though he is my brother, he's a jerk." I looked up at her.
"You're still lucky. I would have killed to have a sibling; a little sister preferably." She sighed wrapping her arms around my shoulders. "An older brother would have been cool too. Truthfully, I don't think my parents wanted children."
"Why would you say that? Your father loves you; that's why he's telling you to stay away from me." I replied leaning back onto the bench and stretching my legs out in front of me.
She chuckled. "I didn't say I doubted that they love me. I know they do." She shrugged. "You know he used to take her a special café every Sunday before I was born and my dad doesn't even drink coffee. My mom said she loved it there. Then suddenly they just . . . stopped; like it didn't matter anymore. Like they didn't have to prove that they loved each other anymore. I just get the feeling they were happier before me."
"How could you say that!" I yelped squeezing her tight. "You know I'm not the biggest fan of your dad here, but I know that they weren't happier then, or loved each other more, or whatever." I smiled. "They just didn't have to prove it anymore because they had you to show that they did and still do." It suddenly clicked in my head. "Maybe that's why your dad is so protective of you."
She looked over her shoulder at the city bus approaching and got off my lap quickly as the doors swung open with a great creak. "Well I wish he would stop."
She sighed for about the millionth time since we had got on the bus. I had finally convinced her to open her Spanish notebook and look through her notes even though she had insisted that if she was to study she would begin to forget things and fail the exam.
"Procrastinator." I shot at her as I flipped the page and took a breath. Ok, the Alaska Boundary Dispute. Canada and the States were fighting over land because when Russia sold Alaska to us the border wasn't properly outlined so each country felt they weren't getting their fair share. They decided a group of judges would rule over this issue. There were three American Judges, two Canadians and a British one because Britain was still ruling over. . .
"Adam, are we there yet? I think my foot is asleep, you might have to carry me." Josie admitted slamming her binder closed and leaning on my shoulder.
I looked around me deciding on where we exactly were. "Almost, one more stop." I replied casually and looking back at my notes. "And I'm sure you can walk."
I threw herself dramatically into my lap blocking my notes from my eyes. "I'm paralyzed Adam! Paralyzed! I need a big strong hockey player . . . much like yourself to carry me!"
"You should be an actress." I said shoving her off me and closing my book and squishing it into my backpack.
"Naw. . . Most actresses are so . . . duh . . . The only one who is pretty good is probably Angelina Jolie; she can kick ass. Actually I heard for a while she wore Billy-Bob Thorton's blood in a vial around her neck while they were married."
I frowned and eyed her carefully. "Oh . . ." Blood. I wonder where she cut herself. Wrists maybe? I've heard of people cutting their ankles so no one could see it. I shook my head. I don't remember seeing any scaring on her. But then again I haven't really been looking.
"Adam! You zoned out on me." Josie said snapping her fingers quickly and grabbing my hand. "Is this the stop?"
I looked around and smiled. "Yeah this is it." I replied looking at our intertwined fingers, trying to focus on her wrist but it was covered by an oversized sweater and her black coat.
She was completely silent as we stepped off the bus and looked around. "Ok Adam, show me the way."
I smirked. "Well first of all, it's that way." I said pointing towards a suburb. It was a nice suburban area. The houses were large and spacious and the backyards had pools. It was close to my home.
She looked over at me. "Over there? Are you sure?"
"Uh huh." I nodded. I hadn't been here in a long time but I knew exactly where I was going. I had actually been told to memorize the way a long time ago and I still hadn't forgotten.
She bit her lip and looked around noticing I hadn't made a move. "If you don't want to go that's fine Adam. You don't have to."
I shook my head. "No we should."
She nodded and took my hand and smiled reassuringly. "Ok."
I took a few steps shakily remembering the last time I had to. I was ten. It was almost six years ago. I closed my eyes and kept waking, urging my legs to move.
"You're a Duck!"
I looked down at my sneakers. "Dan, it's not that bad. It's just a few games."
McGill shook his head. "So what you're just going to leave us for the scrubs?"
"Dan, it's not his choice." Larson defended me quietly.
"Shut up Ryan." Dan spat his nose wrinkling in disgust. "Banks obviously isn't a real Hawk and is going to play for the scrubs. I should have seen it sooner."
"Dan . . ." Ryan started.
"Be quiet Ryan! He was always nice to the scrubs. I bet he is one."
My eyes widened. "I am not! I'm a Hawk. I wore the same jersey as you. It wasn't my fault. It was the districts. My dad tried getting it straightened out but that stupid coach of theirs wouldn't hear of it. I am not a Duck."
Dan grabbed the backpack off my shoulder, making me lose my balance and stumble over my feet and land in the slush by the big tree. "Then you wouldn't mind me looking through your bag." He said unzipping it and tossing my notebooks to the ground. His expression changed drastically as he pulling out my new green jersey. "I told you he was a Duck." He spat at Larson.
Ryan looked away from me sadly. "You don't belong here Adam."
Dan nodded. "Yeah get out of here Duck! You aren't a Hawk now get out of here and don't come back!" He said tossing my bag and my jersey at me. "Go on now. Go!"
I blinked completely confused. "Guys, it isn't my fault. We're best. . ."
"Get out of here Banks!" Ryan yelled for once. "You're a Duck now go!"
I gathered my notebooks and my jersey shoving them un-orderly into my bag, tears blurring my vision grabbing at roots of trees trying to get up the bank, away from our ravine and back home.
I looked down upon the ravine with hesitant eyes. It was just as I left it; beautiful and serene. It was the reason why we picked it, but Ryan Dan or I weren't actually going to admit that when we did. I heard Josie take a sharp breath in beside me.
"Adam, it's amazing." She whispered, looking down upon the snow that had drifted over the banks and the river that has frozen solid.
I nodded carefully. "I haven't been here in a while." I replied back. "It's good to be back." I looked down at the snow where someone has kicked in the snow to make stairs up and down the banks.
Josie looked over at me carefully. "Can we go down there?" She asked innocently, her eyes sparkling as she looked around.
"Go ahead." I smirked as she gingerly went down the steps and walked around through the crunching snow.
She looked up at me blinking. "Aren't you coming?"
I looked over my shoulder carefully. "I don't know. I think I might stay here, keep a lookout."
"For what? Polar bears!" She laughed. "This is your special spot, you should be down here!"
I sighed and carefully went down the icy steps to her. "If we get eaten by polar bears . . ." I mocked her.
"I know I know, at the fiery gates of hell you get to say I told you so." She laughed, slipping her gloved hand into my bare one and pulled me along the river's edge. "Tell me why here?"
"Because I knew you would like it." I whispered to her.
"Liar." She shot back at me laughing. "Trust me Adam. I'm not going to laugh. My special spot is a truck stop in Hudson, Wisconsin. This place is amazing."
I looked over at her and let go of her hand and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into both of my arms, holding her tight. "I love you more than anything." I whispered to her.
Her arms gently moved up my back in a light, hesitant embrace. "Adam what's going on? You're scaring me." Her response was muffled by my coat.
"I. . ."
"Banksie-boy?"
I looked up from Josie to the edge of the bank overlooking the ravine below.
"Larson! Come here!" The teen called behind him, his eyes shifting back to me. "Banks, is that you?"
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* A/N: Yes! It's been a while. I'm trying my hardest trying to get back into my regular updating but it's getting so hard! I'm not running out of ideas (just read the chapter) it's just that I'm daydreaming them and I either a) act them out in my head during French class in the middle of a lecture on l'imparfait and passé composee, which I really should be paying attention in, b) writing down my idea during Careers which is a breeze, but the scenes are like CHAPTERS and CHAPTERS ahead or c) thinking about them right before I go to bed and then I have to keep them until I can get to a computer after school the next day. It's totally not cool. *Fulton walks in* Fulton: "Katie!! You look tired. Go to bed. I'll go get Kenny and Adam and they'll finish your shout outs. You have a French vocab test tomorrow morning. Go! Bed! You! Now! Sleep!" *author rolls eyes* It's only 11:15! And I have a vocab test I need to study for. . . Go get Adam and Kenny. *Fulton nods and runs upstairs. Ok. I'll leave you guys to Adam and Kenny in a second. Ok, so I hope you all enjoyed my chapter. I hope you liked the flashback. I kind of always wondered about Adam's friendships after he joined the Ducks in D1 because it wasn't explained really. So my explanation. I hope you enjoyed it and . . . . *Kenny, Adam, Peter (yay!), Averman and Fulton walk into room* *Peter crosses arms* Peter: "Off. Our turn." Guys!! *Fulton picks up author and trudges up the stairs as the author screams her goodbyes to everyone* Kenny: "Hi! We finally got out of that suitcase. I learned a lot about Peter like if you poke him in his right kidney, he flinches." *Averman giggles and pokes Peter making his jump* Peter: "Do you want to lose that finger?" Adam: "Guys. Let's finish Katie's shout outs and then you can beat my roommate up." Peter: "You've changed Banksie. I like it because I get to hurt Averman. *smiles sadistically*" *Averman cowers*
Shout Outs!!
Tara- Adam: "Hey Tara! Katie went to sleep and Fulton is tucking her in, so she can't say hey to everyone. Katie wanted to say that she's been reading 'Romeo and Julie' but keeps forgetting to review and she's really angry at herself for not doing it because you have been so active in reviewing 'Don't Speak' *coughs* the Adam Story *cough*" Peter: "If your head gets any bigger your brains will come out your ears." *Adam glares* Peter: "Ok, Katie says this. The reason why I couldn't go to the Goodwill Games was the same reason Terry couldn't. If you read back in the story, it says that Terry was like a few months too young and that's why I couldn't go with them and which is also why I didn't get a scholarship." Adam: "Katie is so smart." Peter: "*nods* I wanted to come, but I couldn't. Stupid age restrictions." Averman: "*grabs keyboard* But we still won without him. Says a whole lot about his skills and . . . *Peter punches Averman in the arm* OWWWW!! Peter! That hurt!!" Adam: "*snickers quietly*" *Averman grumbles and goes upstairs to say goodnight to author* *Kenny grabs keyboard* Kenny: "You guys are just going in circles and aren't paying attention to what Katie told us to do! *shakes head and continues* Anyways, Katie said it was ok that you didn't say heaps, your other reviews made up for it and she's glad you enjoyed the chapter! And she said to say 'Love from Canada, Katie, Adam, Fulton, Kenny, Peter and Averman. But I just wanted to say Hey to Dean! Big Bash Bro!! It's weird just having Fulton here! You have to see Canada! It's amazing!! Lates!"
Beaner- Adam: "Hey Katie! OHH!! I met Katie (the author)'s friend named Katie, and her OTHER friend names Katie. They were super cool! I think most Katie's of the world are amazing! I think I'm going to start a fan club!" *Kenny grabs keyboard* Kenny: "Enough already! Katie said 'She was glad you liked last chapter and is hoping you like this chapter too! And. . . .'" *Averman snatches away keyboard* Averman: "You agree with me? YOU AGREE WITH ME! In your face Adam Banks! *does victory dance* tra la la la la la!! Katie agrees with me!" *Peter punches him in the arm* Averman: "Dammit Peter! I'm going to be more bruised than Adam was after his dad!" Adam: *Punches Averman in the other arm* "Stop talking about my dad!" Averman: *pouts* "I'm getting abused here."*Kenny grabs keyboard* Kenny: "Ok Everyone out! I'm finishing the shout outs! If I need you I'll get you. Out!" *guys glare at each other as they file out.* Kenny: *sighs* "There! Where was I? Oh yes, Katie said not to be scared of serious Averman. He's perfectly harmless. Worry about the parents. Oh I'll personally make Averman into a snowman if you want to hit him, because he needs it right now. Katie also says, she's hoping she'll be able to come back, because she really really REALLY likes writing and she doesn't want to leave because this is a major outlet of stress. So. . . maybe. We'll see. Other than that lates from everyone in Canada, which is me (Kenny), Adam, Fulton, Averman and the author, Katie!"
Rachel- Kenny: "Hey! Katie (seeing she's sleeping) had some things to say to you. You TOTALLY got the Averman side. She was hoping you guys wouldn't see him as just another conflict but also as a warning! She was so happy she was bouncing when she read your review. Adam has made a statement too saying he isn't being hired out to clean closets. Averman has already asked and Peter punched him in the gut. We're not sure if it was because of the Adam thing or if he said something to Peter about his height. No matter. The Ducks wish you a Happy (belated) Valentines Day!!"
Shelbers- Kenny: "Hey you two! Charlie, don't worry about Averman. He'll probably have another serious moment soon. One day. Maybe. And it isn't that big of a deal Averman is pretty boring when he isn't joking around." *Averman pokes his head into the room* Averman: "I heard that Wu. I'll have Peter over you like a starved puppy on a pork chop!" *scuffle from outside of the room* Peter: "Don't call me a puppy! I still haven't forgiven you for stuffing me into a suitcase!" Kenny: *coughs nervously* "Yes anyways. Hope you two liked the chapter!"
OreoLine00- *everyone rushes in* Peter: "You got into a fight with Jesse? Jesse HALL? Jesse Hall number 9? Are you SURE it wasn't a different Jesse?" Adam: "We're confused . . . did you send him home to us or to another campsite? Because then we're going to have to keep a lookout for crates." *Everyone nods in agreement* Kenny: "Anyways, We've done a consensus here. We have decided that Adam in leather would be weird. Actually we borrowed Fulton's and Adam almost collapsed under the weight of it. It was pretty funny. So it's a nay on the leather." *Adam nods* Kenny: "Katie wanted to thank you for the review and told us to tell you to keep reading!
Kenny: "Well I'm proud of my work! Katie is sleeping and Fulton is . . . *looks around* Where's Fulton?" *The ducks look around frowning* Peter: "Where is Fulton?" Averman:" We're going to look for Fulton now. Later! Review!
~Toodles!